America Online and MCI have introduced a service to allow users to have their own relay number. I have signed up for it and received my new phone number by email within two days. I’ve distributed the number, but no one has tested the service yet.
I have a Sidekick II that has AIM (AOL instant messenger), so this would be a great service to have if it works well especially since you get your OWN phone number. No more explaining to people the process of making a relay call—call this number, tell them to call my number, blah blah blah. I’ve had better luck using AIM than the relay on the device. I’ll report on the service once I’ve tried it.
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That’s gotta be awesome!
Along a similar vein, I got my own extension for CSD’s video relay service. I love it!! They have little business cards that you can print out with your name and phone number. When someone calls, if I don’t pick up, a video message is recorded and immediately emailed to me. And people do actually call with no problems even if I don’t explain the service to them.
For me, the biggest pro is that the conversation flows much more naturally, at a pace that voice callers are accustomed to. No waiting for a “GA” and being unable to interject a comment. Also, I find that people are able to understand MUCH better the concept of VRS than TRS, and the VRS agents seem more friendly and willing to explain … I have yet to see complaints about rude VRS agents, which I often got with TRS. I don’t know if it is because VRS agents are interpreters with more experience with deaf people or because being a VRS agent requires a much higher level of training than TRS agents need, but my experiences with VRS have been much more positive than with TRS.
I’m very interested in that TRS phone number deal for when I’m traveling, though. I’d like to give it out as my “mobile” phone number. Do let us know how it goes.